M.E.R.C.
From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe
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Contents |
Background
Creation
In late 2002, Major James Ashe began the process of creating a new super group to help fill the void left in the wake of the Rikti War. Having seen the devastation the Rikti invaders wrought on their largely unprepared super-powered foes, the Major was determined that this new group would operate with strict military discipline and efficiency. After a year and a half of planning and organizing, the Metahuman Emergency Response Corps (M.E.R.C.), set up base in Paragon City on May 10, 2004.
Secret Mission
The public image of M.E.R.C. is that of a fairly small super group, typical of those operating in Paragon City. This is, in actuality, a carefully maintained cover for the real M.E.R.C., a larger covert organization dedicated to waging a shadow war against powerful villainous groups worldwide.
Secret Lives
All M.E.R.C. members' public lives are, to some extent, cover stories for their careers as covert operatives. Many serve as members of the publicly-known M.E.R.C., and hide only the existence of the underlying organization. Others conceal their association with M.E.R.C. completely, but still maintain publicly-recognized heroic personas, and may even hold memberships in other super groups. Still others maintain total secrecy about not only their M.E.R.C. membership, but also their super-powered nature, leading normal, non-powered lives until they are called into action.
Financing
The initial funding for M.E.R.C. came from a trust fund established by Major James Ashe with money drawn from his own accounts, as well as contributions from a handful of his trusted associates. As the organization has grown, it has gained additional revenue from several companies that are partially or wholly owned by M.E.R.C. members (the most notable example being Barkley Telecom). The final source of M.E.R.C.'s funding comes in the form of assets seized during operations against enemy groups.
Bases of Operations
In addition to its Paragon City headquarters, M.E.R.C. possesses several secret bases in cities around the globe. Most of these bases operate as regional offices for M.E.R.C.'s assorted front companies.
Rank Structure
Administrator
The Administrator is the man in charge: he sets overall M.E.R.C. policy, prioritizes operations, allocates resources, and has final say on the recruitment and training of new operatives.
Operations Managers
Reporting directly to the Administrator, each Operations Manager is responsible for coordinating M.E.R.C.'s activities against a single enemy group or, in some cases, a small number of closely-related enemy groups (for example, the Rikti Operations Manager assigns missions relating to both the Rikti and the Rikti-mutated humans known as the Lost).
Senior Operatives
Veteran Operatives who have displayed leadership qualities, the Senior Operatives act as field commanders for missions that require a large M.E.R.C. presence. Senior Operatives are also the drill instructors who prepare Trainees to become Operatives.
Operatives
Part super-soldier, part super-spy, each M.E.R.C. Operative is a highly-trained professional, capable of handling a multitude of situations in the field. Acting individually or in small teams, Operatives do not require supervision from Senior Operatives. When an all-Operative team is assigned a mission, the assigning Operations Manager designates a team leader based on relevant specialized knowledge/abilities or, if all Operatives are similarly qualified, on seniority.
Trainees
Trainees are new recruits who have not yet been cleared to operate in the field without the supervision of a Senior Operative. The length of time spent as a Trainee varies from hero to hero, depending on prior experience. A hero with extensive formal training might be promoted to Operative in as little as four weeks, after completing a "crash course" orientation on M.E.R.C. policies and procedures, while a "true rookie" might have to complete several months of training in personal combat, small unit tactics, and covert operations.
Equipment
Uniform
The standard-issue M.E.R.C. uniform is composed of high-durability synthetic fibers and provides modest protection from piercing and projectile weapons, corrosives, and temperature extremes. The large "jewel" buckle on the belt houses a sensor array that monitors environmental conditions, as well as a personal locator beacon which, thanks to Barkley Telecom's satellite network, can alert M.E.R.C. headquarters to a member in distress virtually anywhere in the world when activated.
